News update

A new building is to be constructed to house the Westmoreland Parish Council.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Noel Arscott, has announced that $35 million has been secured to begin construction soon.

After an extensive tour of sections of the parish on August 20, the Minister said he was concerned about the condition of the building which houses the Westmoreland Parish Council.

“The situation at the present location is totally incompatible with any modern type of administration for local authorities. In my Sectorial Debate in Parliament earlier this year, I gave a commitment that we are going to spend some money to ensure that the Westmoreland Parish Council has an appropriate office complex,” he said.

Mr. Arscott informed that the site for the new council building would be developed “as part and parcel of the Local Government Reform Programme.”

“The administration of the people’s business needs to be carried out in a very comfortable environment. Initially, we had budgeted $35 million which obviously will not be enough to complete the building, but we will now do it in tranches and therefore we will have the remainder available at an appropriate time,” he said.

“We intend to have the building completed in short order and have the Council place in a comfortable working surrounding,” he added.

The Minister informed that the advertisements (for tender) are now out and as soon as all appropriate documents are reviewed and the contractor is named, construction would begin thereafter.